Police look for 3 men involved in botched armed robbery at United Bank branch on St. James Avenue

Springfield Police DepartmentIn the top photo, a robber in a red sweatshirt rifles through the tellers drawer. In the middle photo, the robber in a gray sweatshirt can be seen holding a gun while a customer kneels on the floor. In the bottom strip, the robber in red vaults the counter as the robber in gray points a gun at someone. Police say a third robber, not shown, stood look out by the front door.

SPRINGFIELD — Two gunmen fired shots at the ceiling and yelled for customers to lie on the floor during a robbery just before 12:30 p.m. Friday at United Bank, 1077 St. James Ave., in East Springfield, police said.

"One of them shouted, 'Everyone get on the floor,'" said Sgt. John M. Delaney, a spokesman for Springfield Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.

The robbers also fired several shots as they exited the bank, Delaney said.

Responding officers said they smelled gunpowder when they entered the bank, but police found no evidence that actual bullets had been fired inside the building. Detectives believe the gun either was loaded with blank ammunition or was some type of starter pistol, Delaney said.

A bank teller told police she heard the gun go off and thought it might have misfired, and then she realized it was not a real gun, Delaney said.

No one was injured in the robbery, although two female customers were pretty shaken up, he said.

Police believe the suspects are three Hispanic men, ranging in age from 19 to 22. Two entered the bank and one stood outside, apparently as a lookout, Delaney said.

All three wore hooded sweatshirts that partially concealed their faces. One robber was described as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and about 130 pounds with scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans with black circles sewn into the rear pockets.

There is a good chance that at least one of them is covered with dye from an exploding dye pack that was slipped in with the money, Delaney said, adding that all of the money was recovered.

The robbers dropped most of it on the floor inside the bank as they bolted for the door. The remainder of the money was recovered at the nearby Lucy Mallory Village apartment complex on Putnam Circle, where they dropped it when the dye pack exploded, Delaney said.

The Mary O. Pottenger School at 1435 Carew St. was locked down as a precaution until police determined that the robbers had gone in the opposite direction, Delaney said.
Police also searched the area around the Springfield Cinemas, but found nothing.

People with information are asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355. Anonymous text-message tips also may be sent to “CRIMES” (or "274637"), with the body of the message beginning with the word "SOLVE."